Cane commissioner, Sanjay Bhoosreddy said that the said mills were erring on 75% or more of the two dues to be paid to the cane growers. In all, he said, 32 out of the 116 operating mills were still defaulting on payment of cane dues.

The cane commissioner said that if the mills fail to pay dues despite the notice, the state government would slap a recovery challan on them.

Bhoosreddy said that the district magistrates have also been asked to hold a weekly review of the cane dues and expedite their payments. As a rule, cane growers should be paid the due within 14 days of the cane purchase. According to records, millers are yet to pay over INR25 billion (US$388.3 million) to the farmers in the ongoing crushing season.